STOP DEMOLITION OF AND INSTEAD RE-USE OLD STADIUM FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020.

URGENT PETITION TO STOP DEMOLITION OF AND INSTEAD RE-USE OLD STADIUM FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020.

We the undersigned seek the Japanese Government to abandon construction of Zaha Hadid’s proposal for the new Olympic Stadium and instead remodel the existing stadium to meet the 2020 Games’ requirements for the following reasons:

The proposed new stadium is overwhelmingly large for the context (70 meters high). While we are not opposed to Zaha Hadid’s design, we are opposed to the “program” under which it was designed.

It will desecrate the “sacred grounds” of Meiji Shrine Outer Gardens, where it is planned, by its sheer size and anticipated use by the multitude.

It will eliminate much of the green for which the Outer Gardens had been famous and loved.

It is not ecologically sustainable as the IOC requires it to be.

It will destroy the beautiful silhouette of Kaigakan (art museum) in the Outer Gardens by soaring above it in the background.

Initialcost is too high---approximately $1.7 billion (originally $3 billion, now twice that of London Olympics stadium, three times that of Beijing’s) for a stadium that would be used for only 17 days for the Olympics and about a month including the Paralympics.

Maintenance cost is too high: estimated at $35-43 million/year to be paid mostly by taxes.

There are hardly any venues for an 80,000 spectator stadium after the Olympics: over 300 days/year estimated to be unused.

80,000 spectator stadium is not an IOC requirement but proposed only to accommodate World Cup Rugby to be held in 2019.

Convertible roof too is not an IOC requirement but desired for post-Olympic events such as concerts.

It is feared that the planned roof would not withstand snow loads.

A 15-meter height restriction has been lifted to accommodate Hadid’s design. There is fear of future development to take advantage of this change in restriction to further aggravate the environment.

An expansion remodeling study of the present stadium at half the cost of the new stadium and in 3years (1 year for design, 2 years for construction) had been undertaken and proven possible by JSC (Japan Sport Council).

The planned construction would “steal” much materials, manpower, and time from the urgently needed reconstruction of the earthquake-and-tsunami-devastated Tohoku region.

The new stadium would relocate approximately 180 residents/families, many elderly, from their present habitat and for the second time around for many since the first Olympics in 1964.

The whole project is being undertaken in utmost secrecy undemocratically without any popular referendum.

Requests had been made over and over again to the respective government agencies and personnel involved for public disclosure of the project but have met hardly any results. As such, we are now resorting to outside help in order to pressure our government not only from within but also from outside of our country.

We the undersigned believe that this issue is local not only to Tokyo and Japan but also to the world at large, being a non-sustainable approach to an international event. We thereby humbly ask for your support for our cause by signing the petition below. We also would very much appreciate your helping us spread the news and gain as much support as we can. Architects and designers, please refer to your local chapters and organizations to use respective mailing directories to expand the movement exponentially.

Thank you!

Edward Suzuki, architect

Mayumi Mori, writer/editor

Ryoko Ueyama, Landscape Architect, President of Nagaoka Institute of Design